“No one remembers second place, unless his name is Harry Kane.” For years, this phrase had almost become synonymous with the English striker, a cruel label for one of the game’s most consistent goal scorers.
Whenever Harry Kane’s name was mentioned, a true lionheart of England and a world-class striker, people didn’t immediately think of his incredible skills or his goal tally. Instead, they thought of his infamous “trophyless curse.”
That all changed in May 2025, when Bayern Munich clinched the Bundesliga title two rounds before the end of the season. With it, 31-year-old Harry Kane finally held the championship trophy he had long dreamed of.
A Decade of Dream-Chasing: A Rocky Road
Kane’s talent as one of the most influential center forwards of this generation has never been in question. However, the label of “trophyless” haunted him for a full decade.
In 2015, a 21-year-old Kane reached his first English football final. Full of hope and ambition, he stood on the edge of glory. However, Spurs’ defeat to Chelsea shattered Kane’s dream. That marked the beginning of a long and arduous journey.
Over the following seasons, Kane’s brilliance continued to grow; his goal-scoring, vision, and leadership all flourished. But Tottenham’s inconsistency in crucial moments continually let him down.
Consider the 2015–16 Premier League season: Spurs remained in the title race until the final stretch, but they abruptly faltered, allowing Leicester City to complete their incredible journey.
So Close, So Often: The Agony Continued
Fast-forward to 2018, Kane starred for England at the World Cup in Russia, netting six goals and winning the Golden Boot. Yet the Three Lions fell short in the semi-finals.
In 2019, Spurs made history by reaching the Champions League final for the first time. Kane recovered from injury to start the match, but Tottenham fell 0–2 to Liverpool. Once again, Kane had to watch another team lift the prize.
Then came the 2021 European Championship, where Kane led England to their first major final in over 50 years. Wembley was electric, but heartbreak followed. England lost to Italy on penalties.
A Bitter Start in Germany, but He Refused to Give Up
In the summer of 2023, Kane made a bold move, joining German giants Bayern Munich. He was chasing one thing: a trophy.
However, achieving success was not an easy task. His first few months were filled with disappointment. Real Madrid knocked him out of the Champions League semi-final, while RB Leipzig crushed him in the German Super Cup.
Finally, in the 2024–25 season, Bayern reasserted their dominance in the Bundesliga and secured the title early. When Kane finally lifted the trophy, he didn’t let out a cheer or leap with joy. Instead, he quietly posted a single trophy emoji on social media. Although it was a modest gesture, it conveyed a powerful message.
From Mockery to Admiration—He Won More Than Just a Trophy
In the locker room, teammates sang “We Are the Champions” in celebration. Kane stood in the middle, calm and composed, with a glint of pride in his eyes. He had weathered every challenge, from the barren years at Spurs to the challenging early days in Munich, and now he had achieved the pinnacle.
His journey wasn’t just a personal milestone. It was a real-life story of a tragic hero rising again, the kind of underdog comeback fit for a “Rocky” movie. Through sheer will and belief, Kane silenced his critics and earned what had long eluded him: respect, vindication, and glory.
The Trophy Is Not the End
For Harry Kane, this Bundesliga title is more than overdue recognition. It’s the reward for a decade of silent hard work.
He will still face fierce competition on the biggest stage, in the Champions League, against the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City. But this title has proven that when elite talent meets the right system, and when individual brilliance aligns with collective discipline, even the harshest curses can be broken.
As Kane himself once said, “The best of Harry Kane is yet to come.” Now, in the second half of his career, he is no longer chasing; he’s leading. And with this trophy in hand, Kane has sent a clear message to the football world: his legend has only just begun.
